In a night defined by a new rising star, in the land of the Rising Sun, Japanese fighter Shokichi Iwata secured a landmark clear cut victory by defeating the veteran Thai champion Knockout CP , via eighth-round unanimous technical decision, winning the WBC World Light Flyweight title.

From the opening bell, Iwata set a relentless pace. Utilizing an aggressive style built around constant pressure and straight armed  combinations, the Japanese challenger successfully controlled the distance against the shorter Thai.

Freshmart, one of the division’s most respected figures, attempted to use his lateral movement, to neutralize the onslaught but the fight’s sheer intensity began to take its toll. Round after round, Iwata’s precision inflicted increasing and worsening accumulated damage on Freshmart’s face, specifically targeting the area around the left eye.

The turning point came when Freshmart suffered a deep laceration above that eye. Blood flow became a decisive factor; although the Thai fighter battled on valiantly, the clarity of his vision, via the flow of claret,  was severely compromised as the bout progressed.

At the end of the eighth round, the ringside physician examined the injury and determined it was unsafe for Freshmart to continue. Per WBC regulations, since more than four rounds had been completed, the result went to the scorecards. The judges were in total agreement, awarding Iwata a unanimous technical decision, that reflected his dominance throughout the contest.